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Earphone

a technology for earphones and earphones, applied in the field of earphones, can solve problems such as difficulty in achieving better sound quality, and achieve the effect of reducing sound quality loss

Active Publication Date: 2009-12-10
JVC KENWOOD CORP A CORP OF JAPAN
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Embodiments of the present invention solve the problems as described above by providing an earphone having an audio output unit to be held inside the external auditory canal with a reduced loss in sound quality.

Problems solved by technology

Generally, the smaller the audio output unit is, the more difficult it will be to output sounds of better quality.

Method used

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Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0029]FIG. 1A is a front elevational view of an earphone 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a left lateral view of the earphone 10 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1C is a top view of the earphone 10 according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 1A to 1C represent an earphone 10 for the left ear.

[0030]The earphone 10 constitutes a part of an earphone unit (not shown) for stereo audio output. The earphone unit further includes an earphone for the right ear, a connection plug, and a cable. The earphone for the right ear (not shown) is formed plane-symmetrically to the earphone 10. The cable is disposed such that it forks halfway into two branches. The connection plug is coupled to the end of the trunk part of the cable, and the earphone 10 for the left ear and the earphone for the right ear are coupled to the ends of the respective branches thereof.

[0031]The connection plug is inserted to a headphone jack (not shown) of an audio output apparatus ...

second embodiment

[0052]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an earpiece 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the structure of an earphone according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the earphone 10 of the first embodiment except that the earpiece 50 is employed instead of the earpiece 18.

[0053]The rear face 30b of the driver unit 30 communicates with the outside air through the venting hole 16e and the venting hole 34b. However, since the driver unit 30 is covered with the external auditory canal, it is more difficult to ensure the communication between the audio output face 30a of the driver unit 30 and the outside air than when the driver unit 30 is located outside the ear canal.

[0054]To overcome this difficulty, an umbrella portion 50b of the earpiece 50 is provided with grooves 50c that run from the front end to the rear end thereof. This ensures a communication of the interior of the external auditory canal with the outside air t...

third embodiment

[0055]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an earpiece 52 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Note that the structure of an earphone according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the earphone 10 of the first embodiment except that the earpiece 52 is employed instead of the earpiece 18.

[0056]The whole external surface of an umbrella portion 52b of the earpiece 52 is provided with grains that are asperity in the thickness direction. This creates a large number of minute paths through which the air flows between the wall surface of the external auditory canal and the external surface of the umbrella portion 52b when the user has inserted the earpiece 52 in the ear canal. As a result, the interior of the external auditory canal can be communicated with the outside air through the external surface of the umbrella portion 52b. Consequently, the audio output face 30a is communicated with the outside air through the audio output hole 52a pro...

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PUM

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Abstract

An earphone includes a cylindrical portion having an opening in one end and an audio output unit which outputs sound from one face. The audio output unit is fixed to the cylindrical portion such that another face is in contact with an end face of the one end of the cylindrical portion. The audio output unit and the cylindrical portion are insertable at least partially in the external auditory canal of a human being. The earphone further includes a thin-wall part provided in the cylindrical portion and a ring, made of a material of a greater specific gravity than the cylindrical portion, which is fixed to the inner surface. The ring is fixed in a position such that the ring overlaps in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion with respect to the thin-wall part.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the priority benefit of Japanese patent application numbers 2008-147450 filed Jun. 4, 2008; 2008-224846 filed Sep. 2, 2008; and 2008-302845 filed Nov. 27, 2008. The disclosure of each of the aforementioned applications is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an earphone and, in particular, to an earphone that has an insertion part to be inserted in the external auditory canal of a user.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Among various earphones on the market today, there are, for instance, canal type (earplug type) earphones with which the user hears sounds output from an audio output unit thereof, with the earpiece or the like inserted in the external auditory canal. And proposed for such canal type earphones are sound-insulating earphones, which includes an elongated earphone wrapped in a sound-insulating ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04R25/00
CPCH04R1/1091
Inventor FUJIKURA, TAKASHIISHIZAKA, KAZUNORI
Owner JVC KENWOOD CORP A CORP OF JAPAN
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